Evelyn David - Sullivan Investigations 01 - Murder Off the Books (20 page)

Chapter 28

“Mrs. Brenner’s okay,” Joanne said as she emerged from the Ladies’ Room. “Just throwing some cold water on her face. She’ll be out in a second.”

Mac nodded at her. “Where are the kids?”

“In the employee break room. So far they’re not talking much.”

“Don’t let Eddie near them,” Mac warned.

“I’ll try but I think they all know more than they are saying. Somebody needs to tell them it’s time to come to Jesus.” Joanne fixed Mac with a hard look.

He shook his head in disgust. “I’m no good at sermons, but I’ll see what I can manage. Do me a favor. You stay with the kids and make sure they don’t get into trouble. I need to talk to the lieutenant and then I’ll talk to them. Where is he?”

“Out front, arguing with a reporter.”

Mac raised his eyebrows.

“The story is already out. The brass is having a fit. Calling in the crime lab last night, even if it was for the wrong reason, is the only thing saving my gold shield. They took some swabs of the blood on the hearse. It was human.”

Mac put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Everyone thought–”

“Yeah, but cat or no cat, I should have checked that dumpster myself. The lieutenant isn’t happy.”

“You’re not the only one who screwed up. I’m going to see if I can steal a look at the scene before they move the body.”

***

“Mackenzie Sullivan! I thought you retired to a fishing boat in
Florida.” A tall woman with a long gray braid smiled at him.

“That lasted about a week. Then I’d had all the fish I could enjoy.” He held out a hand to
Greeley’s favorite medical examiner, a fifty-something woman with an addiction to Camel cigarettes and country music. “How are you, Georgia? Still smoking a pack a day?”

“I’m cutting back. Most days I’m down to one cigarette per autopsy.” She waved off shaking his hand, instead holding up her blood smeared, latex-covered ones for his view. “What’s your business here?”

“Long story. Can I take a look?”

“If it’s okay with
Greeley, it’s fine with me. You know the procedure. Gloves and shoe covers are over there.” She pointed to a black case positioned against the brick funeral home wall. “You’ll need to stand on the ladder to see inside. Try not to touch anything inside the dumpster or all you’ll smell for the next few days is decaying flesh.”

“Cause of death?”

She chuckled. “Unofficially–9 mm gun shot to the back of the head. Officially–the same thing but typed up tomorrow along with the results of a bunch of lab tests.”

“Time of death?”

“Body is still in full rigor so with these temps, not more than forty-eight hours, maybe a few hours less. I’ll need to check the stomach contents to narrow it down more.”

“Best guess?”

“Early Friday night.”

Mac ticked off the days in his head. The night after Whiskey was abducted. The night Rachel Brenner practically threw him and Whiskey out of her house.

***

“Mrs. Brenner is lying. She knows where her brother is and I’m ready to let her enjoy the comforts of the D.C. jail until she tells me what she knows,”
Greeley announced when Mac came back inside the funeral home.

“On what charges?”

“Accessory to murder, make that murders, plural. Aiding and abetting a fugitive. Material witness. I’m sure I can come up with enough to hold Mrs. Brenner until she coughs up her brother.”

“I’m not sure she knows where he is,” Mac offered weakly.

“He’s getting help from someone. He’s been playing us for fools, practically parading down Constitution Avenue then disappearing into thin air. He’s got help, damn it, and I think the lady is in up to her skinny armpits.”

“She’s cooperated
….” Mac began. “Did you ever check out the girlfriend angle? What about Lenore–”

“We’ve been looking into Ms. Adams. I’ve got someone watching her house and office. You concentrate on Mrs. Brenner.”
Greeley narrowed his eyes. “Unless you’ve gotten so personally involved that–”

“You know me better than that.” Mac tried a different tack. “I think maybe it’s slipped your mind that you haven’t charged Dan Thayer with anything yet. She’s not aiding a fugitive.”

“Whose side are you on?”

Mac shrugged. “Whichever side the truth is on. Rachel Brenner believes her brother is being framed. From what she can see, he’s already been tried and convicted by the D.C. police. And I’m not at all sure she’s wrong.”

The lieutenant slammed his hand against the brick wall. “That’s bullshit and you know it. I think you may be a little too close to the suspects in this particular case.”

“Let me talk to her and the kids. If I can’t get Rach–Mrs. Brenner to tell me what she knows, then you can bring in the rack and thumb screws.”

Greeley stared wordlessly at the private detective and then nodded. “You’ve got ten minutes. Talk fast.”

***

“Give us a few minutes,” Mac said to the narcotics detective sitting with Rachel in her office.

“Sure, I’ll check with Joanne, see what she wants me to do.” Pete cocked his head towards Rachel who had her head down on her arms which were resting on the desk. Her eyes were closed. “She’s been pretty quiet.”

Mac sat down in the chair across from her. “Rachel.”

When she didn’t stir, he cleared his throat. “We need to talk.”

“All I know is that a young girl was murdered and dumped in a garbage bin.” Rachel sat up slowly. Her eyes were hollow and a spasm passed through her body. “Someone killed a kid, no older than Sam, and for what? They killed her and tossed her in that dumpster like–”

“Listen to me,” Mac reached over and touched Rachel’s hand to force her to focus on him. “I don’t know who is responsible for this. But I do know the killer is running scared and killing anyone who gets in his way. You’re in danger. Sam and his friends are in danger.”

“It’s not Dan,” Rachel said, her voice hollow and thin.

“He, she–I don’t know who the hell it is, but that person will just as soon kill you, as sneeze.
Greeley has got three murders on his plate and he’s looking–”

“For Dan, whether he’s the killer or not,” Rachel interrupted.

“Yes, he wants Dan Thayer for questioning. But right now the lieutenant thinks you’re harboring a fugitive. You’ve got to tell him everything you know, and frankly, you know a lot more than you’ve said.”

“I– “

Mac held up his hand to stop her. “It’s a lie, Rachel Brenner. You know more than you’ve told me. You went to Warrenton last Thursday night specifically to meet your brother. I know you’re in contact with him. Was the plan that he’d be here this afternoon?”

“No,” Rachel asserted, then closed her lips and looked away.

Mac stood up. “Whether you believe it or not, I’ve been trying to help you.”

“Then find the real killer,” Rachel implored. “Dan didn’t do it. He just couldn’t have killed somebody and thrown her in the trash. He just couldn’t.”

Mac laughed. “Disposing of a body in the garbage isn’t his style? That’s the best defense you can come up with for him?”

Rachel stood toe-to-toe with the private detective. “Stop it. I’ve got nothing more to tell you. I’m taking the kids and we’re going home.”

Mac grabbed her arm as she started for the door. He spun her to face him. “You don’t have to talk to me, Mrs. Brenner. But Lieutenant Greeley wants to have another word with you. If you lie to him again, he’ll throw you in jail.”

“I didn’t–I don’t believe you.” She searched his face. “You’re just trying to scare me.”

“Hell, you don’t have the good sense to be scared.”

Rachel stuck out her chin. “I don’t have to talk without a lawyer. I know my rights.”

“No you don’t have to talk. You can sit in a six by eight foot cell and remain as silent as you want.” Mac shook his head in disbelief. “Why are you protecting a grown man who doesn’t have the balls to stand up for himself? Someone who hides behind his big sister’s skirt?”

“Stop shouting at me! Dan’s not hiding.”

“Really?” Mac swept his arm outwards. “Where is he? Where is he when you and the kids are in danger? He seems to be perfectly happy to let you take the fall for his disappearing act.”

“Leave me alone. I’m going home.”

“Not yet,” Mac said, opening the door and motioning for Officer Bryant to step forward “Just remember I gave you a chance to do it the easy way.”

Chapter 29

“Mrs. Brenner, I’d like to ask you some questions.” Greeley began as she approached the table where Sam, Ray, and Carrie were seated. Carrie was sniffing loudly and dabbing at the corners of her reddened eyes. Ray was next to her, one arm tight around the young woman’s shoulders.

A movement against the far wall drew her attention. The four detectives who’d been hunting Dan stood at attention, apparently waiting for something. Joe Bryant joined them.

Rachel felt like laughing, wondering if they were waiting for her to make a run for it. They didn’t know she wasn’t the running type. At least not any more.

“Mom, you okay?” Sam started to rise, but Rachel motioned for him to stay in place.

“Lieutenant, I’m not answering anything unless I have a lawyer present. I’ll be glad to come to the station tomorrow–”

“Mrs. Brenner, we can do this easy or we can do this hard.”
Greeley motioned for Rachel to take an empty seat at the table.

“Don’t threaten me,” Rachel snapped. “I’ve had just about enough of your harassment. I’ve committed no crimes and broken no laws that I’m aware of.” The thought crossed her mind that tampering with a body might qualify as something but she was the only one who knew about that.

The lieutenant held up his hand in self-defense. “I’m not threatening you. And it’s not my intent to harass you. I’m asking for your cooperation.”

“And if I don’t choose to give it?” In her peripheral vision, she saw Mac and his dog quietly enter the room and the dog immediately take up a position next to Ray. Mac stood near the window. He was waiting too, probably for her to beg for his help. She wasn’t the begging type either. Never had been.

Greeley locked gazes with her. “Then I’ll be forced to find other ways to get to the truth. And that’s a promise, Mrs. Brenner, not a threat.”

***

Mac knew what Greeley was going to do. His former boss was very good at getting suspects to cooperate. He just hoped Greeley remembered that Rachel and the kids weren’t criminals; the worst they’d done was try to help a man they believed to be innocent.

“Giles.”
Greeley’s sharp tone brooked no nonsense. The female detective immediately moved to the center of the room.

“Yes, sir.”

“Take Sam Brenner into one of the viewing rooms and get his movements for the past week. Have him account for every day and get the names of people on campus who can verify whether he was in class when he claims he was. I also want to know where he’s been for every minute of the last twenty-four hours.”

Startled, Sam looked towards his mother.

“Leave him alone,” Rachel insisted.

Mac saw her glance in his direction, but he couldn’t help her now. He’d tried to gain her trust, but she’d made her decision to go it alone.

“Giles, I gave you an order,” Greeley commanded.

The female detective tugged at Sam’s arm. “Come on, kid. Let’s go.”

The teen stood. “It’s okay, Mom. I can handle this.”

“Sam.” Rachel stepped in front of her son. “Don’t say a word. We’re not going to discuss anything without a lawyer present.”

“I’ll be fine.” Sam touched his mother’s hand. “Don’t let them bully you.”

“Giles, now.”

Mac watched the detective push the teen ahead of her out of the room. He had no doubt that the worst Joanne would do to Sam would be to offer him a soda and, if he didn’t smart off to her, a candy bar. Greeley just wanted Sam out of his mother’s sight.

“You so much as touch a hair on his head…” Rachel warned, her voice shaking in fury.

Greeley’s expression was stone cold. “There are rules for interrogating suspects.”

“How is he a suspect?” Rachel demanded. “Sam was in
Philadelphia when this whole mess began. You can check–”

 
“I can’t eliminate anyone for the murder of the girl,” Greeley pointed out. “I don’t have a time of death. She was discarded in a dumpster to which he had access. She is–or was–a pretty college co-ed. Your son spend any time on the Concordia campus?”

Rachel stormed across the room. “This is crap and you know it.”

“Three people are dead and I want to talk to your brother about what he had to do with the murders.”

 
“Dan didn’t have anything to do with these deaths,” Rachel insisted, glancing towards Mac again.

“Then he should turn himself in and–”

“And you’d stop looking for the real killer,” Rachel finished.

Rachel and the head of detectives glared at one another. Finally,
Greeley took a deep breath and whirled around to face Mac.

“Sullivan,”
Greeley barked.

Mac stepped forward. He’d been expecting this too.
Greeley didn’t want Rachel to have any support in the room.

“Get out.”

“Sir?”

“You heard me the first time. Get out. This is official police business.”

“Lieutenant, I’d like to stay–”

“I don’t give a damn what you’d like. Get out.”

 Mac stiffened, then gave a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”

He clicked his fingers for Whiskey. The dog whined and settled closer to Ray, rubbing her nose against the young man’s jeans. Maybe leaving Whiskey in the room was a good idea. Mac looked from the hound to the teen and then to the lieutenant.

“Seems like my dance card is coming up empty. I’ll be just outside. Call me if Whiskey confesses to the crime. I’ll post bail.” Mac sauntered out.

***

The lieutenant cocked his head towards the table. “Mrs. Brenner, please take a seat. Now!”

Rachel hesitated, then walked slowly to a chair opposite the young couple. She gave them a quick glance, trying to evaluate how much more of this they could take. Carrie nodded and moved even closer to Ray, practically sitting in his lap. Her eyes, swollen from all the tears, darted between the two adults in the standoff.

Ray gave her a tight smile, one arm still around Carrie’s shoulders, his other hand nervously combing through the wiry hair of the Irish wolfhound.

The lieutenant leaned back against the bookshelf. “When did you last see your brother?”

“I’ve got nothing to say.” Rachel stared wearily at Greeley and waited.

“I can bring you in as a material witness to a crime.”

Rachel’s hands were shaking so much that she clasped them together to still their movements. She forced herself to hold the lieutenant’s fierce glare. “I’m not talking without my lawyer.”

“Okay, we can play hardball if you want.” The lieutenant pointed to the two detectives across the room.

“Fiori, Gorden.” The two officers stood at attention. “Read Kozlowski his rights. He’s under arrest as an accessory to murder.”

Ray’s head snapped up, his eyes moving between the lieutenant and the overweight detective who was pulling a set of handcuffs from his back pocket. Whiskey growled and bared her teeth.

“Down girl,” Ray soothed. Whiskey ignored the command and started to pace, moving to the window and whining.

“You have the right to remain silent
….” Fiori intoned the litany.

“No,” Carrie screamed, clutching frantically at Ray’s arm.

Whiskey began barking.

“Tell me where Dan Thayer is,” the lieutenant ordered.

“I….” Rachel hesitated.

“Put Kozlowski in a squad car and take him to central booking,” the lieutenant snapped.

“Mrs. Brenner, you can’t let them do this to Ray,” Carrie cried.

Greeley
stalked out of the break room and Rachel followed on his heels. Behind them they could hear Pete Fiori continue to intone the Miranda warning.

“…and refuse to answer questions.”

“This is outrageous.” Rachel grabbed Greeley’s wrist.

The lieutenant shot a look at the woman who quickly withdrew her hand.

“Leave Ray alone,” she implored. “He doesn’t know anything.”

“He’s a material witness, withheld evidence, tampered with a crime scene. I’m sure I have enough to hold him. He’ll be arraigned tomorrow and released…if he can make bail.” A small smile tugged at the corners of
Greeley’s mouth.

“You are a sorry son of a bitch. Ray doesn’t know anything about these murders and you know it.”

“But you know something about them, Mrs. Brenner. I’m tired of your games. Three people are already dead. How many more are going to have to die before you decide to come clean?”

“Get off him you big baboon.” Carrie voice carried into the hallway.

“Okay bitch, now you’re under arrest too, for assaulting an officer.”

Carrie screamed.

Rachel pivoted on her heel and raced back to the break room, gasping when she saw that Eddie Gorden had twisted Carrie’s arm behind her back. The situation was out of control.

“Give me another set of cuffs,” Eddie yelled to Pete Fiori. “I’m under attack.”

“Get your hands off her,” Ray warned, using his shoulder to shove the cop against the table and away from Carrie.

Eddie roared like a wounded bull and charged at Ray. He slammed his fist into the boy’s stomach, and immediately followed it up with a second blow to the solar plexus. Winded, the tall, gangly young man doubled over, sucking desperately for air. At that moment, the cop delivered a stunning blow to the back of the teen’s neck. Ray sank to his knees.

Carrie lunged to the teen’s side and threw her arms around him. Whiskey’s barking reached a frenzy. Mac suddenly appeared. Breathing heavily, Eddie pushed Carrie aside and jerked Ray to his feet. He grabbed the boy’s arm, twisting it. “Now you can add assault and resisting arrest to the list of charges.”

“Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law,” Fiori continued without pause. “You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police
….”

“Stop!” Rachel screamed. She had no choices left. Dan would have to take care of himself. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

***

Whiskey’s barking had gotten him back inside the funeral home; Rachel’s scream had propelled him across the room. “Let the kid go,” he yelled at Eddie above the din. “It’s over.”

Eddie ignored the private detective and twisted Ray’s arm in a tighter hold, forcing the teen to cry out in pain.

“Let him go you jackass,” Mac demanded. “I won’t tell you again.”

“Like hell I will.”

“Now.” Mac grabbed Eddie’s arm and yanked it away from Ray. Enraged, the cop swung wildly at Mac, who easily deflected the blows.

 “You’re under arrest Sullivan for assault, battery, and interfering in a police matter,” Eddie screamed, his face beet red.

Whiskey raced across the floor, teeth bared. Ray grabbed the dog’s collar. Whiskey barked wildly, frantically tugging to get free.

“You’re running out of handcuffs, Gorden.”

“Call off that mutt of yours or I’ll shoot her.”

Mac turned and Eddie landed a solid punch on his jaw.

“And never draw another breath, you fat bastard.” His mouth bleeding, Mac threw an uppercut, the force of the blow lifting Eddie up and dropping him to the floor.

“Break it up, NOW!” Greeley shouted from the doorway.

Eddie scrambled to his feet, his leather shoes sliding on the floor. He charged towards Mac, but Pete Fiori reached out and grabbed him by the back of his belt, holding him back.

The lieutenant stormed over to Mac. “I thought I told you to get out.”

“Keep your trained apes under control and I wouldn’t have to be here.” Panting for breath, Mac glared at the lieutenant, then walked over to Ray and Whiskey.

“You okay?” Mac asked, resting his hand on the young man’s shoulder.

The teen nodded, still too winded to speak, but managing to hold steadfast to Whiskey’s collar. The dog’s frantic barking had quieted to dangerous growls.

Mac took a leash from his back pocket and clipped it to Whiskey’s collar, then moved to the far side of the room, away from Eddie who was still gasping for air and straining to escape Fiori’s hold.

“Detective Gorden,” the lieutenant called to the overweight cop. “Check with the medical examiner to determine when the body can be released.”

Fiori suddenly let go and Eddie almost ended up on the floor again.

The cop’s face turned from red to an ugly shade of purple. “What? No way. Send Fiori. This is my case and I want–”

“I gave you an order. Get outside now.”

“What about Sullivan?” Eddie said, hunched over as he tried to catch his breath. “I want him in cuffs. Attacked me. I’m pressing charges.” He sucked in another breath.

“We’ll discuss what charges will be filed later. Are you disobeying a direct order?”

“I’m calling the union,” the cop wheezed as he barreled past the lieutenant.